Bangladesh out of SA Games Football title race

An early goal by midfielder Sunil Bal helped hosts Nepal to eliminate Bangladesh U-23 team from the title race of the South Asian Games Men's Football on Sunday, reports UNB.

Bangladesh conceded a 0-1 goal defeat against Nepal in their fourth and last league match at the Dasharath Rangasala Stadium in Kathmandu. Bal netted the match winner in the 11th minute.

Bangladesh captain Jamal Bhuiyan got a red card just a few seconds before the final whistle (90+6 minutes).

Nepal will now play against Bhutan in the final on Tuesday (10 December) at 5:15pm (BdST) at the same venue.

Bangladesh booters had a bright chance to regain the games soccer title after eight years when they beat Sri Lanka by 1-0 goal in their third match.

Bangladesh started SA Games campaign with an embarrassing 0-1 goal defeat against lowly Bhutan in the opening match and played out a 1-1 draw with Maldives in the second match.

Bangladesh men's team clinched the SA Games Football crown twice - first in the 1999 in Kathmandu and then in 2010 in Dhaka.